research

Shawn Skerrett

My laboratory is focused on innate immunity to bacterial infections of the lungs. We study interactions of bacteria with alveolar macrophages and airway epithelial cells in vitro, and use mouse models of infection to study integrated host defenses in vivo. We make extensive use of genetically altered bacteria and mice to explore specific molecular interactions in microbial virulence and host defense. Current efforts focus on pattern recognition pathways that trigger key responses to Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei.